FCC Chairman Encourages Activation of the FM Radio Receiver Built Into Your iPhone

[Chupa Chupa]

Lots of comments on here are saying no thanks, not for me.

The technology is already built into the phone. It's there right now. In your hand. Switching it on will do jack **** if you choose not to use it.

Yes, 100% correct, but you know how millenials get offended when a feature is added that is not targeted exactly to their own personal needs

But I do kinda feel old because I remember when the biggest feature request for the iPod was an FM tuner. Heh.

 

[mdelvecchio]

Apple doesn't want people to listen to free radio (i.e. music).

Prove it.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I have some Android phones with FM radio, I rarely use it, but it does comes in handy when cellular signal is a problem.

Usually I can listen to ESPN radio or a morning show when I'm visiting my doctor or dentist which service sucks for every carrier in their waiting rooms.

 

[mejsric]

Apple Car has no radio, obviously

 

[mdelvecchio]

Apple's not going to do it because it'll allow you to listen to radio for free, rather than having to pay them for a monthly subscription.

Prove it.

Sounds like nonsense to me, since they've made FM-iPods, and this feature wasn't enabled years (YEARS!) before they had a streaming service. Which doesn't offer local radio anyway.

Adjust your tinfoil, boys!

 

[truthertech]

Apple's not going to do it because it'll allow you to listen to radio for free, rather than having to pay them for a monthly subscription.

Source?

 

[WinstonRumfoord]

Right-wing radio talk shows never took off on podcasts and live streams. They still linger on AM stations, farting out nonsense and conservative conspiracy theories. Giving these bottom feeders' bad ideas a way to pollute modern devices is a bad idea.

This is the absolute least reasonable reasoning for anything I have ever seen, ever. You must be a hoot at parties.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Yah but no. FM radio should be banned, since it's been taken over by monopoly radio corporations, pushing out the same 40-year old classic rock stations and bits and pieces of commercial pop.

By that logic computers, movies, music, alcohol, soft drinks, books, heck nearly every product in our lives should be banned since they are owned by a few huge companies in each respective industry.

 

[Larry The L]

who listens to FM radio anymore unless they really have to?

I really have to listen to FM. It's part of my foundational beliefs. If I don't, I fear I might die.

 

[MacknTosh]

Well - I've learned something today!!! Didn't know FM was built in. Switch it on and give us the choice to use it if we want.

 

[bladerunner2000]

Oh, boy you mean I could get free advertisements over the air?

No, thank you. I have a radio in my car that hasn't been turned on in years.

LOL, what makes you think you HAVE to listen to the radio if it's an option?

This is like a lot of you iPhone users complaining about the 3.5mm headphone jack being useless only when Apple got rid of it despite the fact that it was never a bother and all of you had wireless headphone options via bluetooth ANYWAY.

 

[dugbug]

Apple's not going to do it because it'll allow you to listen to radio for free, rather than having to pay them for a monthly subscription.

huh? you can stream radio now using a variety of apps, as well as use competing services. This has little to do with apple thinking FM competes with apple music

 

[Thunderhawks]

What is a walkman?

 

[Kaibelf]

That's the apple spirit! Because I don't use feature x, it should not be available to anyone!

If you want it that badly, there are other phones.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

The chip is there, but it still needs to be wired up to an antenna. If the antenna pins aren't hooked up to anything, that's a no go, even if there is FM support by the wireless chipset being used. And I suspect they aren't. And since antenna length is based on the frequencies you are operating at, it's unlikely that the antennas used for 700Mhz+ are going to be all that great for 80-100Mhz frequencies (plus the transmission part might throw a wrench into it, my RF is a bit rusty).

They could have it hooked up to the headphone jack and do FM that way, but when I tried that with an iPod Nano a few years ago, it was a sort of "it works, but isn't great" answer.

My initial thought as well, what good would "activating" the chip be if there are no antennae.

 

[dannyyankou]

I didn't know people still listened to the radio, they just play the same 5 songs over and over again.

 

[FrenchRoasted]

TIL: My iPhone has the capability to receive FM signals. I'd rather have a function that I don't use than not have the option.
Question: Can it also receive NOAA weather alert signals?

 

[calzon65]

If the capability is there in the iPhone, including the appropriate antennas, then yes, Apple should activate it.

 

[Radeon85]

FM in phones usually requires wired headphones plugged in to be used as the antenna, so thats the iPhone 7 and all future iPhone's useless then

 

[code-m]

I am all for activating/enabling the FM capability.

Don't need it, don't use it, simple. Others still have the option if they choose to do so, why restrict a capability that is built-in by default. If these companies want to sell they own music streaming service, why not let the market decide, what happened to free market competition and choice. I have no issues with the ads, they have to pay for the free service you are receiving and using so why not. Besides I am now desensitized when the commercials are played.

Many affordable Android phones have this option available and it requires headphones in-order to work, not an issue. No requirement to build or include another antenna. I believe the iPod Nano has had this feature enabled for a while, why not the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad.

My DECT phone has this capability and I use it from time-to-time, choice. It is a beautiful thing.

All the haters can shell out they hard earned income to Apple or others if they do not want commercials, for the rest of us. I support this.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

LOL, what makes you think you HAVE to listen to the radio if it's an option?

For me, specficially, my hypthalamus makes me do it. Especially for football, but also major baseball games, I am biologically wired to need to hear the pregame and postgame show. It's not an option. I'll get the shakes otherwise thinking I'm missing out on some good commentary and insight on why my teams are so horrible.

 

[code-m]

FM in phones usually requires wired headphones plugged in to be used as the antenna, so thats the iPhone 7 and all future iPhone's useless then

Lightening wired headphones.

 

[netwalker]

If FCC chairman Ajit Pai can give those few ad-free online radios streams that play the music I like a free FM frequency, I'd be happy to. The only reason I still use an iPod is, so that I do NOT have to listen to any of those horrible FM stations when driving.

 

[code-m]

For me, specficially, my hypthalamus makes me do it. Especially for football, but also major baseball games, I am biologically wired to need to hear the pregame and postgame show. It's not an option. I'll get the shakes otherwise thinking I'm missing out on some good commentary and insight on why my teams are so horrible.

You need to see a doctor, stat

 

[Radeon85]

Lightening wired headphones.

Good point, forgot about that

FM is not going to last much longer though as a few places want to switch it off. Now building DAB into a phone would be great.